Level 1 charging uses a standard 120V outlet and the car's cordset, adding only a few miles of range per hour. Level 2 uses a dedicated 240V circuit and charges several times faster. For most full EV drivers in Bend, Level 2 is what keeps an overnight charge ahead of daily driving. Level 1 can be enough for a plug-in hybrid or a very low-mileage car — the honest test is whether an overnight charge replaces the miles you put on in a day.
The core difference
The difference between Level 1 and Level 2 is voltage and, with it, speed. Level 1 runs on a standard 120V household outlet — no install needed, just the cordset that came with the car — and adds only a few miles of range per hour. Level 2 runs on a dedicated 240V circuit, the same voltage class as an electric range, and charges several times faster. Everything else about the comparison flows from that gap.
What Level 1 gives you
Level 1 gives you charging with zero install: plug the car's cordset into a normal outlet and it trickles in a few miles of range an hour. Over a full night that's a modest amount — enough to recover a short daily commute, not enough to refill a battery you ran down on a weekend trip. For a plug-in hybrid with a small battery, or a car that barely drives, that can genuinely be all you need.
What Level 2 gives you
Level 2 gives you an overnight refill. On a 240V circuit, charging is several times faster than Level 1 — fast enough that a normal day's driving recovers fully overnight, and a deeply run-down battery is back up by morning. For a full EV doing a typical Bend commute plus errands and weekend trips, that's the difference between always managing your charge and never thinking about it. The exact miles per hour depend on the circuit amperage and your car.
Which do you need?
Run the honest test: does a Level 1 overnight charge replace the miles you actually drive in a day? If yes — a plug-in hybrid, a low-mileage second car, or a short commute — Level 1 may be enough and there's no reason to spend on a 240V circuit. If no, that's the case for Level 2. Most full EV drivers land on Level 2 because their daily mileage outruns what a wall outlet can replace overnight.
If Level 2 is the answer, the next questions are what amperage and what install type — see what amperage EV charger do I need and hardwired vs NEMA 14-50. When you're ready, our Level 2 install service handles it permitted and inspected. And if your driving doesn't justify Level 2 yet, we'll tell you that on the phone.